Smiling, he typed back to calm her down:
“Girl, gaining a little weight isn’t a bad thing. You were so thin before that I used to worry the wind might blow you away. Don’t rush into dieting, okay?”
Her reply came with a crying bunny emoji:
“No way! If I come back to China like this, I’ll have no face to meet you! I’ve gained weight even on my face. At this point, I could qualify as a national export!”
He chuckled at her dramatics and replied,
“I’m a doctor, remember? Would you like to hear a professional’s advice?”
This worked; her reply came back calmer, accompanied by an eager expression.
After thinking for a moment, he wrote,
“I’ll prescribe you a herbal tea blend for weight loss. Just drink it consistently, and don’t skip meals or eat too little, alright?”
She readily agreed. He jotted down a simple recipe for digestive herbs she could brew into tea. He doubted it would have a significant effect, but he figured it would give her peace of mind.
* * *
As Christmas approached, the weather in Pennsylvania was unusually warm, with no sign of snow. His roommate, an experienced local, warned him that temperatures might plummet after the holiday, and even shared stories of an April blizzard in previous years.
This was the first time He Su Ye left Penn’s campus, stepping into the entirely different atmosphere of another university.
Ithaca was a quiet, small town with barely a soul in sight. As they drove, his roommate mentioned the Greek poet Constantine Cavafy’s poem Ithaca:
“When you set out for Ithaca, pray that your road is long, full of adventure, full of knowledge.”
He couldn’t help but smile. The Ithaca he was heading to held the person he loved—it was full of hope and happiness.
Last Christmas, they had spent the holiday with a group of friends. When he walked her home afterward, she had smiled and said,
“I’m just so happy when I’m with you, for no reason at all.”
He still remembered how he had felt then—surprised and at a loss.
Perhaps that was when he unknowingly started falling for her. In that neon-lit city, amidst the bustling crowd, her white dress had stood out, vibrant and lively against the night. Now, he wondered what form she would take when he saw her again.
In this quiet town, in a distant country, where everything felt unfamiliar and the nights seemed endlessly long, the two of them could only rely on and warm each other to get through it all.
His roommate parked in front of a host family’s house and pointed to a building not far away.
“That’s Cornell’s library. Just follow this road and turn left—it’s right there.”
Checking his watch, he realized it was almost 5 PM.
“Thanks,” he said quickly. “I’ll come find you later.”
His roommate teased,
“Make sure to bring your girlfriend along. It’s always good for Chinese students to connect.”
Waving goodbye, he laughed.
“Got it. See you later!”
At exactly 5 PM, she would always leave the library and head back to her dorm—a fixed routine of hers.
He had originally planned to wait for her outside the library, but as he rounded a corner, he spotted a familiar figure clutching a stack of reference books, walking briskly.
Her simple, modest outfit—a light mauve cotton jacket—made her complexion look even fairer. Her hair now reached her waist, and the professional sharpness she used to carry had softened into a studious serenity.
Unaware of his presence, Shen Xi Fan continued walking. He caught up with her and gently tapped her shoulder.
“Shen Xi Fan,” he called softly.
She turned, her eyes wide with shock. For a long moment, she could only stare at him before finally asking,
“You… He Su Ye, what are you doing here?”
He smiled, though he noticed his heart was racing.
“I came to see you.”
Stepping closer, he reached for the books in her arms. Shen Xi Fan stared at him, struggling to contain the surge of emotions within her.
“Why are you here?” she asked again, her voice trembling. The joy, excitement, surprise, and nervousness all tumbled together, leaving her speechless.
Gently taking her hand, he smiled and said,
“I’ll tell you once we’re back.”
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